Safety warning after pile of needles found in Highbridge estate

Safety warning after pile of needles found in Highbridge estate

“I AM worried that I will come downstairs one day and find my son or someone else’s child has been killed by a dirty needle.”

Those are the words of a concerned Highbridge resident who is urging parents to be vigilant after discovering a pile of needles by a bin store outside her home in Gulliford Close on Friday (November 1)

The resident, who wishes to remain anonymous, said she was ‘absolutely disgusted’ to find the needles outside her home and called the council to remove them.

She said: “My friend was walking down the stairs with her young daughter and discovered there was a pile of used needles by the bin store.

“She shouted for me to come down and when I walked down and saw it for myself I was disgusted.

“My kids and other children in the area play out there and I am worried that I will come downstairs one day and find my son or someone else’s child has been killed by a dirty needle.

“It was clear by looking at them that most of the needles had been used as there was blood and other stuff on them.

“A young child could easily pick that up and not know what it is and could get seriously ill by touching one of the needles.

“It is worrying that this is happening outside my home and I would urge other parents to be vigilant if their children are playing out there and to keep an eye on them.”

The resident said the council has removed the needles from the area but thinks more action should be taken to stop the problem.

“I am glad that the needles have been removed but we have ongoing problems with that bin,” the spokesman said.

“I have found broken glass there before and the bins have been overflowing for ages now.

“I think the council should put a proper around the bin store and put a code lock on it so people can’t do this anymore.

“It would make the area safer for the community and safer for our children to play in.”

A spokesperson for Sedgemoor District Council confirmed they have now removed the needles from the area and they would urge anyone who sees needles to report them.

“We can only ask that users of needles dispose of them in a safe manner,” the council spokesperson said.

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